System for attaching a golf bag to a golf car

ABSTRACT

Briefly stated, the present invention is a golf bag attachment system for transporting golf clubs adapted for use with a golf car having a golf car attachment device to secure the golf bag to the golf car. The system includes a first strap having a first strap attachment for attaching the first strap to the golf bag and a second strap coupled to the golf car attachment device. A second strap attachment is coupled to the golf bag for receiving and retaining the second strap to secure the golf bag to the golf car attachment device. The second strap attachment can be a conduit through the golf bag or around the periphery of the golf bag. The golf bag can include at least one partition for dividing the golf clubs into a plurality of groups of golf clubs and the conduit can pass through the interior of the partition. Additionally, the conduit can substantially enclose a portion of the second strap attachment received and retained therein and the conduit wall can have an opening therethrough for exposing a portion of the second strap attachment to permit manipulation of the exposed portion of the second strap attachment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a golf bag for use with ariding golf car and, in particular, a golf bag which permits more securetransporting of a golf bag using a golf car.

A great deal of attention has been paid to the design of both golf carsand golf bags, in order to enable them to assist golfers in enjoyingtheir game. The basic use of a golf bag is carrying a set of golf clubsand related smaller golf accessories. Presently many different types ofgolf bags are available to serve this basic purpose. The most commontype of golf bag available is formed with an elongated, generallycylindrical body portion with a closed bottom. The top of the bag isopen in order to allow golf clubs to be inserted handle first into theelongated body portion of the golf bag. A shoulder strap is adjustablyfixed along one longitudinal side of the golf bag allowing it to becarried on the shoulder of the golfer. Several pockets are usuallyprovided about the periphery of the golf bag for storage of the smallergolf accessories such as golf balls and tees. Larger pockets aresometimes also provided on golf bags for storage of other items such asclothing in order to make it easier for the user to change clothes whendesired.

Riding golf cars provide convenient transportation for golfers as wellas golf bags, golf clubs and any other items a golfer may wish to bringalong while playing golf. Most riding golf cars are used on golf coursesby pairs of golfers with their golf bags strapped to the back of thegolf car. Conventionally golf bags are attached to golf cars usingstraps secured around a golf bag attachment device which is in turnsecured to the golf car. However, the securing of the golf bags to theattachment device can sometimes be awkward and the bag is sometimessubject to inadvertent detachment.

When playing a game of golf one golfer may hit a ball to one side of afairway and another golfer may hit a ball to the other side. Thus, onegolfer may have to walk to one of the balls while the other golferdrives the golf car to the other ball. Sometimes a golf ball may be hitto an area of the golf course where a golf car cannot be driven.Additionally, golf cars are often restricted to limited areas of golfcourses such as golf car paths, particularly in the vicinity of thegreens.

Thus, there are several reasons why it can be sometimes necessary for agolfer to leave the golf car and carry one or more clubs to an areawhere a ball has been hit where it is not possible to drive the cart. Insituations like these the golfer leaving the golf car normally removesone or more clubs from a golf bag and hand carries them to the locationof the ball. Thus, it is desirable to have a convenient way for thegolfer to carry the golf clubs under these circumstances.

Often a golfer who carries clubs to the ball is not sure which club willbe needed. Therefore, golfers often carry a number of different clubswith them when they leave the cart. For example, in the vicinity of agreen a golfer often carries one or more short irons and a putter to thelocation of the ball. While making the shot the golfer usually lays theunused clubs on the ground. The unused clubs are then retrieved when theshot is completed. This can cause problems because the clubs aresometimes inadvertently left behind on the ground when the golfercompletes playing the hole and returns to the golf car.

When this happens it can be difficult to find the golf clubsinadvertently left behind. Sometimes the clubs may be left in tall grassmaking them more difficult to find later when it is determined that theyare missing. The same problem can occur in the vicinity of the greenwhen the golfer utilizes the putter and leaves another club, such as ashort iron, in the approaches or fringes of the green. Placing unusedgolf clubs on the ground also exposes them to moisture and dirt therebyrequiring the golfer to clean them before they can be used.

While no statistics are believed to be available on this problem, it isbelieved that many golfers who use golf cars have inadvertently left agolf club somewhere on a golf course in this manner. Many golfers havemade this same mistake more than once. Therefore it is desirable to finda way to prevent the accidental loss of golf clubs in this manner.Additionally, it is desirable to make the carrying of a number of golfclubs away from golf cars more convenient for golfers.

Small hand carried golf club holders suitable for this purpose have beenknown and used for many years. Some of the known golf club holderdevices provide a blade or spike protruding from one end of the holder.To use these club holder devices the golfer forces the blade or spikeinto the ground to support the club holder in an upright position whilemaking a shot.

An early example of such a device is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 699,391issued May 6, 1902, to Johnson. In the Johnson golf club holder the golfclub shafts are retained at the top and bottom portions of the holder bylaterally projecting discs and sockets. U.S. Pat. No. 2,577,333, issuedDec. 4, 1951, to Klum et al. also discloses retaining members at the topand bottom portions of the holder wherein the retaining members projectoutwardly to retain the club shafts. U.S. Pat. No. 2,716,432, issuedAug. 30, 1955, to Duffy teaches retaining the club shafts only at thetop portion of the club holder. The club holder taught by Duffy is heldupright by a laterally projecting spike.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,858,868, issued Nov. 4, 1958, teaches a rigid, laterallyprojecting retaining member positioned toward the top of the club holderfor retaining the golf clubs. The head portions of the golf clubs areretained by a flexible strap which encircles the golf club shafts inthis device. U.S. Pat. No. 2,887,137, issued May 19, 1959 to Robbdiscloses a laterally projecting slotted retainer to hold the gripportions of the golf clubs.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,239, issued Jan. 14, 1992 to Rowland teaches a golfclub holder which is particularly adapted for use with golf cars. TheRowland device provides an elongated rigid body terminating at one endas a spike.

The spike termination is driven into the ground when using the holder.The other end of the elongated body is provided with a handle forcarrying the golf club holder device. A plurality of elongated flexibleretaining members are fixed at one of their ends to the body. The otherends of the retaining members are affixed to a ring or other securingdevice which is effective to grasp a golf club shaft. When no golf clubsare retained in this golf club holder device, it can be convenientlyinserted into a golf bag and carried along with a number of golf clubs.

It is also known to provide add on devices for conveniently carryingsmall golf accessories or other objects along with golf bags. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,059, issued Mar. 17, 1992 to Hendersonteaches an accessory saddle member for a golf bag. The accessory saddlemember includes a number of closeable pockets for carrying golf relateditems and personal items. It is also provided with straps for securingthe saddle member to the golf car. The saddle member taught by Hendersoncan be detachably secured to a golf bag using a hook and loop fabricfastener strip when the golf bag is received into an aperture in thesaddle member.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,410, issued Dec. 14, 1993, to Abregano teaches agolf accessory organizer. The golf accessory organizer taught byAbregano is adapted to hold a number of small accessories such as tees,divot fixers and ball markers. A spring clip is provided on the Abreganoaccessory organizer for releasably securing the accessory organizer to agolf bag. However, neither the accessory saddle member taught byHenderson nor the accessory organizer taught by Abregano is suitable forholding and carrying a plurality of golf clubs.

A solution to the problem of transporting golf clubs while away from agolf car was taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,084 issued to Joseph F.Aliano, Jr. on Dec. 5, 1995. The riding golf car taught by Aliano has anattachment bar or other attachment means for attaching the golf bag tothe back of a golf car. The Aliano golf club bag has two golf bagportions. Each golf bag portion has an opening at the top for receivingat least one golf club and an elongated body portion for retaining theshafts and grips of the golf clubs. The two golf bag portions areseparate and a bag attachment device is provided for securely anddetachably attaching the two golf bag portions to each other. One of thegolf bag portions is attached to the golf car in order to secure itwhile it is transported by the golf car. The other golf bag portion isattached to the golf bag portion that is secured to the golf car. Whenthe two golf bag portions are detached from each other, each can becarried separately by its own carrying strap while retaining its owngolf clubs. However, securing the golf bag taught by Aliano to a golfbag attachment device can still be awkward.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the present invention is a golf bag attachment systemfor transporting golf clubs adapted for use with a golf car having agolf car attachment device to secure the golf bag to the golf car. Thesystem includes a first strap having a first strap attachment forattaching the first strap to the golf bag and a second strap coupled tothe golf car attachment device. A second strap attachment is coupled tothe golf bag for receiving and retaining the second strap to secure thegolf bag to the golf car attachment device. The second strap attachmentcan be a conduit through the golf bag or around the periphery of thegolf bag. The golf bag can include at least one partition for dividingthe golf clubs into a plurality of groups of golf clubs and the conduitcan pass through the interior of the partition. Additionally, theconduit can substantially enclose a portion of the second strapattachment received and retained therein and the conduit wall can havean opening therethrough for exposing a portion of the second strapattachment to permit manipulation of the exposed portion of the secondstrap attachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood whenread in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodimentswhich are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, thatthe invention is not limited to the precise arrangements andinstrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

Fig. 1A is a side elevational view of the large golf bag portion of thepiggyback golf bag system;

FIG. 1B is a front elevational view of the large golf bag portion of thepiggyback golf bag system as shown in Fig. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a top plan view of the large golf bag portion of thepiggyback golf bag system as shown in FIG. 1A;

Fig. 1D is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the large golfbag portion of the piggyback golf bag system shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a front elevational view of the small golf bag portion of thepiggyback golf bag system;

FIG. 2B is a side elevational view of the small golf bag portion of thepiggyback golf bag system as shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a top plan view of the small golf bag portion of thepiggyback golf bag system as shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the large golf bag portion of Fig.1A and the small golf bag portion of FIG. 2A about to be joined togetherto form the piggyback golf bag system;

FIGS. 4A, 4B are side elevational views of an alternate embodiment ofthe piggyback golf bag system as shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A-5C are fragmentary views of an alternate embodiment of thepiggyback golf bag system as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6A is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of thesmall golf bag portion as shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 6B is a front elevational view of the alternate embodiment of thesmall golf bag portion as shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a front elevational view of an alternate embodiment of thesmall golf bag portion as show in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 7B is a side elevational view of the alternate embodiment of thesmall golf bag portion as shown in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C is a side elevational view of the alternate embodiment the smallbag portion as shown in FIG. 7A disposed in a swing-out position;

FIGS. 8A-E are views of the system for attaching a golf bag to a golfcar of the present invention;

FIG. 8F is a view of the system for attaching a golf bag of the presentinvention coupled to a golf car:

FIGS. 9A-C are an alternate embodiment of the system for attaching agolf bag of FIGS. 8A-E;

FIGS. 10A-F are alternate embodiments of the system for attaching a golfbag of FIGS. 8A-E;

FIGS. 11A-F are alternate embodiments of the system for attaching a golfbag of FIGS. 8A-E;

FIGS. 12A-C are an alternate embodiment of the system for attaching agolf bag of FIGS. 8A-E;

FIGS. 13A, B show an attached device which functions as an alternateembodiment of the system for attaching a golf bag of FIGS. 8A-E; and

FIG. 14 shows an attached device which functions as an alternateembodiment of the system for attaching a golf bag of FIGS. 8A-E.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are usedto designate the same elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 7A-7Cshow a prior art golf bag attachment system. FIGS. 1A-1D the large golfbag portion 10. The large golf bag portion 10 has a receiving opening 14at the top for receiving a golf club 11 and an elongated golf bagportion 24 for retaining the elongated shaft 13 of the golf club 11. Anumber of golf club dividers 34 can be provided within the large golfbag portion 10 in order to separate and organize golf clubs such as thegolf club 11 when a number of them are disposed therein. In this mannera number of golf clubs 11 can be organized and retained within the golfbag portion 10. Golf bag portion 10 at 14 is also fitted with a lip orprotruding portion made to receive the hook or hanging device of secondbag for the purpose of joining the two caddy bags. A carrier shoulderstrap 16 is provided in order to permit convenient carrying of the largegolf bag portion 10 and golf clubs 11.

The large golf bag portion 10 is also provided with securing device 32for releasably securing an object to the large golf bag portion 10. Thesecuring device 32 is attached to the outer surface of the large golfbag portion 10. The preferred location of the securing device 32 is thefront side at the bottom of the elongated body 24 of the golf bagportion 10, opposite the carrier shoulder strap 16.

In the preferred embodiment of the piggyback golf bag system thesecuring device 32 can be a pressure sensitive securing device such asone of conventional hook and loop material. A common example of thistype of pressure sensitive securing device is hook and loop fastener.However, it will be understood that the securing device 32 can be anyconvenient device for conveniently securing and releasing an object tothe large golf bag portion 10 of the present invention within the scopeof the present invention as described hereinbelow.

In addition to the securing device 32 and the shoulder strap 16, thelarge golf bag portion 10 can be provided with any of the normalfeatures of a conventional golf bag. These features can include, but arenot limited to, a zipper pocket 28, a handle 20 and a plurality of feet34 for permitting the large golf bag portion 10 to stand in an uprightposition.

A mating lip 12 having an opening 18 is also provided on the large golfbag portion 10 for detachably mating the large golf bag portion 10 toform a piggyback golf bag system in a manner described hereinbelow. Inthe preferred embodiment of the large golf bag portion the mating lip 12is located on the front of the large golf bag portion toward the top ofthe elongated portion 24. Most preferably the mating lip 12 is locatedin the vicinity of the receiving opening 14.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2C, there is shown the small golf bag portion 50.The small golf bag portion 50 is provided with a receiving opening 54for receiving one or more golf clubs 56 and an elongated body portion 68for retaining the elongated shaft 57 of the golf club 56. On the rearside of the small golf bag portion 50 a shoulder carrying strap 66, anupper handle 70 and a lower handle 74 are provided in order to permitthe small golf bag portion 50 to be conveniently carried and handledwhile it contains a number of golf clubs such as the golf club 56. Agolf club divider 76 can be provided within the small bag portion 50 orcaddie bag portion 50 in order to separate and organize a number of golfclubs such as the golf club 56.

A mating hook 58 is disposed on the front side of the small golf bagportion 50, opposite the shoulder strap 66 and the handles 70, 74. Themating hook 58 has a laterally extending segment 52 secured at one endto the elongated body portion 68 of the golf bag portion 50. Adownwardly extending segment 53 depends from the opposite end of thelaterally extending segment 52 and is formed with a triangular shape inthe preferred embodiment. The mating hook 58 is preferably locatedtoward the top of the elongated body portion 68 of the small golf bagportion 50. Most preferably the mating hook 58 is located in thevicinity of the receiving opening 54 at the top of the small golf bagportion 50.

A releasably securing device 78 is disposed on and securely attached tothe small golf bag portion 50, preferably on the front side. Thus themating hook 58 and the securing device 78 are preferably disposed on thesame side of the small golf bag portion 50 as each other and on the sideopposite the shoulder carrying strap 66. The securing device 78 ispreferably a pressure sensitive securing device of the type previouslydescribed with respect to the releasably securing device 32.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown the piggyback golf bag system 80.The piggyback golf bag system 80 includes the large golf bag portion 10and the small golf bag portion 50 releasably coupled to each other. Thelarge golf bag portion 10 and the small golf bag portion 50 arereleasably secured to each other in the piggyback golf bag system 80 inorder to permit them to be conveniently transported together andconveniently separated when the small golf bag portion 50 is to be usedto carry golf clubs to a location distant from the large golf bagportion 10.

In order to mate and releasably secure the golf bag portions 10, 50 toeach other they are positioned with the fronts of the two golf bagportions 10, 50 facing each other. Using the handles 70, 74 of the smallgolf bag portion 50, the small golf bag portion is maneuvered todownwardly insert the tip of the downwardly extending segment 53 of themating hook 58 into the opening 18 of the mating lip 12 of the largegolf bag portion 10. The downwardly extending segment 53 is then movedin a downward direction through the opening 18 until the laterallyextending segment 52 of the mating hook 58 rests against the mating lip12.

When the mating hook 58 of the small golf bag portion 50 is mated withthe mating lip 12 of the large golf bag portion 10 in this manner, thegolf bag portions 10, 50 can be rotated with respect to each other abouta pivot formed by the mating hook 58 and the mating lip 12. In thismanner the small golf bag portion 50 can be pivoted toward the largegolf bag portion 10 to bring the lower regions of the fronts of the golfbag portions 10, 50 into contact with each other. In the preferredembodiment of the piggyback golf bag system 80 the securing devices 32,78 are disposed on the fronts of the golf bag portions 10, 50 atlocations such that the pivoting action brings them into contact witheach other whereby they can be releasably secured to each other.

In order to perform the mating operation, the handles 70, 74 of thesmall golf bag portion 50 can first be separately grasped, one in eachhand, to lift the small golf bag portion 50 and maneuver the tip of thedownwardly extending segment 53 to the opening 18 of the mating lip 12for insertion therethrough. It will be understood that the weight of thesmall golf bag portion 50 and its contents must be supported during thepositioning process. Therefore, in order to facilitate this insertion,the opening of the mating lip 12 should be wide enough to permit easyinsertion of the downwardly extending segment 53 without an undue amountof care about the positioning of the tip of the downwardly extendingsegment 53. Also, the hook 53 should be a triangular shape to facilitateinsertion.

When the mating hook 58 and the mating lip 12 are joined in this mannerthe small golf bag portion 50 is pivoted as previously described or heldaway at the bottom by the lower handle. This pivoting is primarily underthe control the lower handle 74 of small bag portion 50. However, beforeand during pivoting the bottom of the small bag portion can be held awayfrom the large bag portion 10 by the lower handle 74 or by the user'shand. After the pivoting is complete to bring the securing device 78 ofthe small golf bag portion 50 into contact with the releasably securingdevice 32 of the large caddie bag portion 10, the golf bag portions 10,50 can be simultaneously supported upon the feet 34 of the large golfbag portion 10. Additionally, the golf bag portions 10, 50 can betransported in a mated configuration by a golf car 338 (FIG. 8) whilethe large golf bag portion 10 is secured to the rear of the golf car 338by a golf car attachment device 350 as shown in FIG. 8. Golf carattachment device 350 can include a strap or any other conventionaldevice for securing a golf bag 10 to the rear of a golf car 200.Furthermore, it will be understood that golf cars include any suchvehicles, including golf carts and riding carts.

Referring to FIGS. 4A, B, there is shown the piggyback golf bag system100. The piggyback golf bag system 100 is an alternate embodiment of thepiggyback golf bag system 80. In addition to the mating hook 58 and themating lip 12 as previously described, an attachment device 104 ratherthan the releasably securing devices 32, 78, is provided in the golf bagsystem 100 for detachably securing the large golf bag portion 10 to thesmall golf bag portion 50.

The attachment device 104 of the piggyback golf bag system 100 includesa conventional spring latch wherein spaced apart outwardly extendingresilient arms 108 resiliently spread apart from each other by a ball112 as rod 114 thrusts the ball 12 into the space between the arms 108.Thus, within the piggyback golf bag system 100 the handles 70, 74 aregrasped to insert the downwardly extending segment 53 of the mating hook58 into the opening 18 of the mating lip 12 until the laterallyextending segment 52 rests against the mating lip 12 as previouslydescribed. Then, primarily using the handle 74, the small golf bagportion 50 is pivoted to thrust the ball 112 of the attachment device104 between the resilient arms 108 until the arms 108 resiliently springback and secure the ball 112 and supporting rod 114.

Referring to FIGS. 5A-C, there is shown a further attachment device 120.The attachment device 120 is an alternate embodiment of the pressuresensitive attachment devices 32, 78 and the attachment device 104 foruse in detachably securing the large golf bag portion 10 and the smallgolf bag portion 50 to each other within the piggyback golf bag system.The attachment device 120 is a conventional hook and eyelet system,wherein an eyelet 124 is disposed on the front surface of the large golfbag portion 50 and a downwardly extending hook 126 is disposed on thesmall golf bag portion 50.

When detachably securing the small golf bag portion 50 to the large golfbag portion 10 using the hook and eyelet attachment device 120, thehandles 70,74 are grasped and the tip of the downwardly extendingsegment 53 of the mating hook 58 is moved to the vicinity of the opening18 of the mating lip 12 on the large golf bag portion 10. The small golfbag portion 50 is then lowered to permit the downwardly extendingsegment 53 to move through the opening 18 of the mating lip 12 until thetip of the hook 126 is in the vicinity of the eyelet 124. The small golfbag portion 50 is then maneuvered using handles 70, 74 to cause the hook126 to mate with the eyelet 124.

While a limited number of latching, hooking and adhering methods areshown herein for securing the upper and lower regions of the small golfbag portion 50 and the large golf bag portion 10 to each other, it willbe understood that any method for detachably securing them is believedto be within the scope of the invention and a matter of design choice.Other methods for mating the top and bottom regions of the golf bagportions 10, 50 can include, but are not limited to wrap around strapshaving buckles and straps having hook and loop material at the top aswell as at the bottom. Additionally, any type of clamping device can beused. When the securing golf bag portions 10, 50 are joined to eachother to form the piggyback golf bag system, the male and femaleelements forming the various releasable attachment devices can bedisposed on either golf bag portion 10, 50 and at varying locationsalong the elongated regions 24, 68 of the golf bag portions 10, 50.

Referring to FIGS. 6A, B, there is shown a small golf bag portion 140.The small golf bag portion 140 is an alternate embodiment of the smallgolf bag portion 50. The small golf bag portion 140 is provided with anarticulating hook 144. In the articulating hook 144 of the small bagportion 140, a rotatable segment 150 is hinged with respect to anoutwardly extending top segment 52. When the rotatable segment 150 isrotated into its downward mating position, it is disposed for matingwith the opening 18 of the mating lip 12 as previously described. Whenthe rotating segment 150 is rotated to its upward position (shown inphantom), it can be grasped through an opening 146 to pull the smallgolf bag portion 140 along a surface using the wheels 148 on the lowerregion of the small golf bag portion 140 in order to convenientlytransport the small golf bag portion 140.

Referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, there is shown a small golf bag portion 160.The small golf bag portion 160 is a further alternate embodiment of thesmall golf bag portion 50. Within the small golf bag portion 160 anumber of tripod legs 164 are pivotally secured to the elongated portion68 by hinges 168. The small golf bag portion 160 can be transported,while containing the golf club 56, in the manner previously described orby any other convenient method. When the small golf bag portion 160 isno longer being transported, for example when a user is hitting a ball,the tripod legs 164 can be rotatably extended to provide a support meansfor holding the small golf bag portion 160 in a semiupright position.

In FIGS. 8A-F there is shown golf bag attachment system 300 fordetachably securing golf bag 305 to golf car 338 as well as a view ofsystem 300 coupled to a golf car 338. Golf bag attachment system 300includes golf bag 305 having rim 312 and attachment conduit 310therethrough. Attachment conduit 310 can pass through the forward regionof golf bag 305, the rearward region of golf bag 305, or a region towardthe center. Additionally, attachment conduit 310 can pass through golfbag 305 at the height of rim 312 or through any height of golf bag 305below rim 312.

Attachment conduit 310 is adapted for receiving golf car attachmentstrap 335 to detachably secure golf bag 305 to golf car attachmentstructure 350 of golf car 338. Golf car attachment strap 335 is insertedinto the interior of attachment conduit 310 and passed from the interiorof attachment conduit 310 by way of conduit openings 315 at oppositeends of attachment conduit 310. Golf car attachment strap 335 can be aconventional strap attached to any conventional golf car attachmentstructure 350 and buckled thereto in a conventional manner. It will beunderstood that any other method of securing golf car attachment strap335 to golf car attachment structure 350 and thereby to golf car 338 canbe used. For example, a lever closure, a hook and loop or any type ofbuckle can be used to secure the end of attachment strap 335 to golf carattachment structure 350.

The sidewalls of attachment conduit 310 can be provided with openings325. Openings 325 are useful for permitting manually assisting themovement of golf car attachment strap 335 through attachment conduit 310by permitting the fingers of the hand of the user to make contact withattachment strap 335 therethrough. Thus the user can manually guide andunblock attachment strap 335 when passing attachment strap 335 throughattachment conduit 310.

Golf bag 305 is also provided with carrying strap 332 or shoulder strap332 for permitting easy transporting of golf bag 305 when golf bag 305is not secured to golf car 338. Shoulder strap 332 is a conventionalstrap, for example a hook and loop device, that can be attached to golfbag 305 in any manner. For example, shoulder strap 332 can be attachedto golf bag 305 using shoulder strap attachments 330. Shoulder strapattachments 330 can fixedly attach or detachably attach shoulder strap332 to golf bag 305 and can be located anywhere on a side of golf bag305, for example toward the bottom or toward the top of golf bag 305.Preferably, however, upper shoulder strap attachment 330 is located nearthe top of golf bag 305 in the vicinity of rim 312.

It will be understood that attachment conduit 310 can pass through theinterior of a partition within golf bag 305, such as partition 320.Furthermore, it will be understood that partition 320 can be used todivide the interior of golf bag 305 into regions for separating aplurality of golf clubs that can be stored in golf bag 305.

It will also be understood that golf bag attachment system 330 of thepresent embodiment can be advantageously applied to substantially anygolf bag. For example, in addition to single golf bag 305, golf bagattachment system 300 can be applied to either golf bag portion 10, 50of the piggyback golf bag system set forth hereinabove.

FIGS. 9A-C show golf bag attachment system 370 of the present invention.Golf bag attachment system 370 is an alternate embodiment of golf bagattachment system 300, as shown in FIGS. 8A-E. Golf bag 305 within golfbag attachment system 370 is provided with attachment conduit 360 forreceiving attachment strap 335 to attach golf bag 305 to golf bagattachment structure 350 of golf car 338. Attachment conduit 360 hasconduit openings 315 through the sidewall of golf bag 305 for passingattachment strap 335 therethrough when attaching golf bag 305 toattachment structure 350. Attachment strap 335 also passes through theinterior region of golf bag 305 when golf bag 305 is attached toattachment structure 350. The portion of attachment strap 335 disposedwithin the interior region of golf bag 305 when attachment strap 335 ispassed through conduit openings 315 can be completely unenclosed.

FIGS. 10A-F show golf bag attachment system 400. Golf bag attachmentsystem 400 is also an alternate embodiment of golf bag attachment system300 of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 8A-E. Golf bag 305within golf bag attachment system 400 is provided with at least oneattachment loop 330 and preferably a plurality of attachment loops 330for receiving attachment strap 335 to attach golf bag 305 to attachmentstructure 350 of golf car 338. Attachment loops 330 can be disposedaround the outer surface or on the inner surface of golf bag 305 and canbe disposed on the front, the rear, the sides or entirely around golfbag 305. When attachment loops 330 are disclosed on the inner surface ofgolf bag 305 golf bag 305 is provided with conduit openings 365 throughthe sidewalls of golf bag 305 for passing attachment strap 335therethrough when attaching golf bag 305 to attachment structure 350.

FIGS. 11A-F show golf bag attachment system 500. Golf bag attachmentsystem 500 is an alternate embodiment of golf bag attachment system 300of the present invention. Golf bag 305 within golf bag attachment system500 is provided with at least one attachment encasement 340 forreceiving attachment strap 335 to attach golf bag 305 to attachmentstructure 350 of golf car 338. If attachment encasement 340 is disposedin the inner surface of golf bag 305 attachment system 500 has conduitopenings 315 through the sidewalls of golf bag 305 for passingattachment strap 335 therethrough when attaching golf bag 305 toattachment structure 350. Attachment encasement 340 can be disposed onthe inner surface or the outer surface of golf bag 305 and can bedisposed on the front, the rear, the sides or entirely around golf bag305. It can also be located on a partition 320.

Attachment loops 330 and attachment encasement 340 of the presentinvention can be formed of plastic, cloth or any other suitablematerial. Thus attachment loops 330 and attachment encasement 340 can beused to secure golf bag 305 to golf car attachment device 350 of golfcar 338 using attachment strap 335 in the manner previously described.

FIGS. 12A-C show golf bag attachment system 600. Golf bag attachmentsystem 600 is an alternate embodiment of golf bag attachment system 300of the present invention. Golf bag 305 within golf bag attachment system600 is provided with attachment conduit 390 within a side wall of golfbag 305 for receiving attachment strap 335 to attach golf bag 305 toattachment structure 350 of golf car 338. Attachment conduit 390 isprovided with conduit openings 315 through the sidewalls of golf bag 305for passing attachment strap 335 therethrough when attaching golf bag305 to attachment structure 350.

Referring now to FIGS. 13A, B, there is shown golf bag attachment device650 of the present invention. Golf bag attachment device 650 is adaptedto be detachably or fixedly secured to golf bag 305 in order to permitgolf bag 305 to be attached to golf bag attachment structure 350 of golfcar 338. L-shaped portion 665 of golf bag attachment device 650 can berotatably attached to downwardly depending portion 660 and portions 665,660 can be rotated about hinge 665 in order to removably secureattachment device 650 to the sidewall of golf bag 305. Golf bagattachment device 650 can be provided with one or more attachment loops670, with an attachment encasement, with an attachment conduit, or withany other structure suitable for receiving attachment strap 335 tosecure golf bag 305 to attachment structure 350 when attachment device650 is attached to golf bag 305. Furthermore, a pressure sensitivesecuring device, a hooking device such as a hook and eyelet, aresiliently securing device, adhering substances or any other method canbe used to attach golf bag attachment device 650 to golf bag 305.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes can bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf bag attachment system including a golf bagfor transporting golf clubs and at least one portion of a golf car,comprising:said golf bag including a shoulder strap and a shoulder strapattachment device fixed to said golf bag for attaching said shoulderstrap to said golf bag and carrying said golf bag upon the shoulder ofsaid user using said shoulder strap and said shoulder strap attachmentdevice; a golf car attachment device fixedly attached to said golf car;a golf bag attachment strap fixedly attached to said golf car attachmentdevice for attaching said golf bag to said golf car attachment device;and said golf bag including a golf bag attachment conduit extendingthrough said golf bag and being separate from said shoulder strapattachment device for receiving and retaining said golf bag attachmentstrap within said golf bag attachment conduit to secure said golf bag tosaid golf car attachment device.
 2. The golf bag attachment system ofclaim 1, wherein said golf bag includes at least one partition fordividing said golf clubs into a plurality of groups of golf clubs andsaid golf bag attachment conduit passes through the interior of saidpartition.
 3. A golf bag attachment system of claim 1, wherein said golfbag attachment conduit substantially encloses a portion of said golf bagattachment strap received and retained therein.
 4. The golf bagattachment system of claim 1, wherein a wall of said golf bag attachmentconduit has an opening therethrough for exposing a portion of said golfbag attachment strap for permitting manipulation of said exposed portionof said golf bag attachment strap.
 5. The golf bag attachment system ofclaim 1, wherein said shoulder strap attachment device is disposed onsaid golf bag substantially close to the top of said golf bag.
 6. Thegolf bag attachment system of claim 1, wherein said shoulder strapattachment device is provided with a further shoulder strap attachmentdevice for attaching said shoulder strap to said golf bag.
 7. The golfbag attachment system of claim 1, wherein said golf bag attachment strapcomprises a snap hook.
 8. The golf bag attachment system of claim 1,wherein said golf bag attachment conduit is provided with a conduitopening through the side of said golf bag.
 9. The golf bag attachmentsystem of claim 1, wherein said golf bag attachment conduit is providedwith two conduit openings through the side of said golf bag.
 10. Thegolf bag attachment system of claim 1, wherein said golf bag attachmentconduit is formed in an upper region of said golf bag.
 11. The golf bagattachment system of claim 9, wherein said conduit opening is formedbelow an upper region of said side of said golf bag.
 12. The golf bagattachment system of claim 9, wherein said golf bag attachment strappasses through said two conduit openings and through the interior ofsaid golf bag and the portion of said golf bag attachment device passingthrough said interior of said golf bag is completely enclosed.
 13. Thegolf bag attachment system of claim 1, wherein said golf bag attachmentdevice comprises at least one attachment loop for receiving andretaining a portion of said golf bag attachment strap.
 14. The golf bagattachment system of claim 1, wherein said golf bag attachment conduitfurther comprises an attachment encasement for receiving and retaining aportion of said golf bag attachment strap.
 15. The golf bag attachmentsystem of claim 1, wherein said attachment encasement is disposed on aninner surface of said golf bag substantially horizontally aligned withan opening through a sidewall of said golf bag.
 16. The golf bagattachment system of claim 1, wherein said golf bag attachment conduitfurther comprises a plurality of spaced apart loops for receiving andretaining said golf bag attachment strap.
 17. The golf bag attachmentsystem of claim 13, wherein said attachment loop is disposed on an outersurface of said golf bag.
 18. The golf bag attachment system of claim13, wherein said attachment loop is disposed on an inner surface of saidgolf bag.
 19. The golf bag attachment system of claim 13, wherein saidattachment loop is substantially horizontally aligned with an openingthrough the sidewall of said golf bag.
 20. The golf bag attachmentsystem of claim 1, wherein said golf bag attachment strap comprises hookand eye material.
 21. The golf bag attachment system of claim 3 whereinsaid golf bag attachment conduit passes through the front half of saidgolf bag.
 22. The golf bag attachment system of claim 1, wherein saidshoulder strap is detachably secured to said golf bag.
 23. The golf bagattachment system of claim 4, wherein said conduit wall opening isadapted to permit unblocking of said golf bag attachment strap as saidgolf bag attachment strap is inserted into said golf bag attachmentconduit.
 24. The golf bag attachment system of claim 11, comprising afurther attachment device adapted to be secured to said golf bag forsecuring said golf bag to said golf car said further attachment devicehaving an attachment conduit for receiving said golf bag attachmentstrap.
 25. The golf bag attachment system of claim 24, wherein saidfurther attachment device is fixedly attached to said golf bag.
 26. Thegolf bag attachment system of claim 24, wherein said further attachmentdevice is detachably attached to said golf bag.
 27. A golf carattachment system for transporting golf clubs said golf bag attachmentsystem including a golf bag and at least one portion of a golf car,comprising:a golf car attachment device fixedly attached to said golfcar; a golf bag attachment strap for attaching said golf bag to saidgolf car, said golf bag attachment strap being fixedly attached to saidgolf car attachment device whereby said golf bag attachment strap isfixedly attached to said golf car; and said golf bag including ashoulder strap attachment device and a golf bag attachment conduitextending through said golf bag and being separate from said shoulderstrap attachment device for receiving and retaining said golf bagattachment strap fixedly attached to said golf car within saidattachment conduit.
 28. The golf bag attachment device of claim 27,further comprising an attachment loop for receiving said golf bagattachment strap.
 29. The golf bag attachment device of claim 27,further comprising an attachment encasement for receiving said golf bagattachment strap.
 30. The golf bag attachment device of claim 27,further comprising means for detachably securing said golf bagattachment strap to said golf bag.
 31. The golf bag attachment device ofclaim 30, wherein said means for detachably securing said golf bagattachment strap comprises a resilient device.
 32. The golf bagattachment device of claim 30, wherein said means for detachablysecuring comprises a pivot.
 33. The golf bag attachment device of claim27, wherein said golf bag attachment conduit is adapted to be fixedlyattached to said golf bag.